Working paper
Demand for Performing Arts: The Effect of Unobserved Quality on Price Elasticity
The paper documents the changes in the size of the wage distribution in Russia over the period 1994–2003. Developments in wage inequality varied a lot by sub-periods: overall wage inequality stayed stable in 1994–1996, then it jumped following the 1998 crisis and remained at higher levels for three years. In 2002 the trend reversed again and in the course of a single year wage inequality fell back to the level of the mid-1990s. We find that evolution wage inequality was largely driven by changes in the upper end of the wage distribution. Decomposition of wage inequality by population sub-groups shows that inequality has been higher for men, younger and low-educated workers, and rural inhabitants. The structure of inequality did not change much over the period from 1994 to 2003. Demographic variables (mainly gender and region) explain the largest proportion of wage dispersion (over 40% of the explained variation and 15% of total variation). Nearly equivalent is the contribution of firm characteristics with industry affiliation of employer playing the leading role. Our results show that returns to education continued to rise at all percentiles of the wage distribution converging at the level of about 8–9% of wage increase for an additional year of schooling.
The paper presents the structural model of decision-making process on the residential mortgage market. We empirically estimates key drivers of mortgage borrowing, underwriting, and default process by jointly using market-level monthly data and loan-level data from regional branch of Agency of Home Mortgage Lending (AHML). The multistep estimation procedure allows correcting for sample selection bias and endogeneity and provides consistent parameter estimates. Obtained results shows that risk preferences are changing during the time and AHML borrowers are relatively high risky.
We extend the Dixit and Stiglitz set-up by introducing consumer heterogeneity into a general equilibrium model of monopolistic competition. By getting a closedform solution for a symmetric equilibrium, we show how the market outcome depends on the joint distribution of tastes and labor productivities of consumers. In contrast to the traditional framework, the model predicts that the short-run equilibrium price may vary with the number of firms, demonstrating both anti- and procompetitive behavior, which is in accordance with economic intuition and empirical evidence.
Projects and reforms targeting infrastructure services can affect consumer welfare through changes in the price, coverage, or quality of the services provided. The benefits of improved service quality—while significant—are often overlooked because they are difficult to quantify. This article reviews methods of evaluating the welfare implications of changes in the quality of infrastructure services within the broader theoretical perspective of welfare measurement. The study outlines the theoretical assumptions and data requirements involved, illustrating each method with examples that highlight common methodological features and differences. The article also presents the theoretical underpinnings and potential applications of a new approach to analysing the effects of interruptions in the supply of infrastructure services on household welfare.
This conference proceeding includes selected full papers from the 11th EBES Conference – Ekaterinburg. We have accepted papers among resubmitted full papers after the conference ended. In this proceeding you will find a snapshot of topics that are presented in the conference. As expected, our conference has been an intellectual hub for academic discussion for our colleagues in the areas of economics, finance, and business. Participants found an excellent opportunity for presenting new research, exchanging information and discussing current issues. We believe that this conference proceeding and our future conferences will improve further the development of knowledge in our fields.
This paper models household demand for childcare and mothers' labour force participation in Romania. The model estimates the effects of the price of childcare, mothers' wages, and household characteristics on household behaviour with respect to childcare and maternal employment. We find that both the maternal decision to become employed and the decision to use out-of-home care are sensitive to the price of childcare. A decrease in the price of care can increase the number of working mothers and thus can reduce poverty in some households. We also find that the potential market wage of the mother has a significant positive effect on the decision to purchase market care and on the decision to engage in paid employment. The level of household non-wage income has little effect on maternal employment and on the demand for childcare.
Using changes in consumption as a proxy for ‘vulnerability’ we identify the characteristics associated with vulnerability around the time of the 1998 Russian financial crisis. In addition, we examine the role of formal and informal safety nets in preserving individual well being. We apply quantile regression techniques in order to identify the characteristics associated with vulnerability across the two periods. Amongst those most vulnerable during the crisis were, less educated individuals living in urban areas, in households containing greater numbers of pensioners. Furthermore, we found that increases in home production and help from relatives acted to decrease vulnerability, especially amongst those suffering the largest changes in consumption. Following the crisis, amongst the least vulnerable were, better educated individuals, resident in urban areas, able to increase home production, and in receipt of improved pension payments and child benefits.